International road racing star Graeme Crosby is the latest ‘big
name’ rider to confirm his participation at the forthcoming Classic TT
presented by Bennetts with the New Zealand rider taking part in both the
‘Joey Dunlop Road Racing Legend – The Rivals’ Parade Lap’ sponsored by
the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company and Classic Racer Magazine Classic
TT Lap of Honour.

Crosby, who was briefly team-mates with Dunlop in 1980, will
ride his original XR69 Suzuki on which he was highly successful, the
machine now being part of the Team Classic Suzuki stable. The Kiwi took
the machine to victory in the 1980 and 1981 World Formula One
Championships as well as countless race wins and championships on the
UK's short circuits.

His TT career spanned just three years but in that time he was
nothing short of sensational, finishing a stunning fourth on his debut
in the 1979 Formula One race and then taking race wins in the 1980
Senior, 1981 Formula One and 1981 Classic TT Races, the last two coming
on the aforementioned XR69 Suzuki.

Crosby clinched his first World F1 title at the Ulster Grand
Prix in 1980, when Dunlop joined him as team-mate, the Ballymoney man
easing off in the closing stages of the race to allow Graeme to take the
win and the world title.

Dunlop, of course, joined Honda for the following season with
the duo going on to have numerous battles during the course of the
season, none more so than in the 1981 Classic TT. There was little to
choose between the two riders in the early stages and although Dunlop
claimed the outright lap record before retiring, with a speed of
115.40mph, Crosby was only 0.8s slower at 115.32mph and went on take the
win from team-mate Mick Grant.

Although his TT career was brief, Crosby was arguably one of
the best ever racers to grace the Mountain Course and had he continued
on the roads, he would almost certainly have racked up more wins and
podiums.

Graeme will also be attending the Classic TT VIP Hospitality
events and RST Heroes Dinner. You can join Graeme at these events and
tickets can be purchased from www.iomtt.com or by phoning 00 44 (0)1624 640000.